![]() Only the electric eel can generate enough power to stun and even kill its prey! We’ll find out more about this extraordinary adaptation further down the page. However, the other knifefish only produce electricity for electrolocation (the ability to ‘see’ the environment using electrical fields). Most knifefish look more like ‘normal’ fish than the electric eel, and all have the ability to generate electricity. The electric eel is the only species in the Electrophoridae family. (Although ‘real’ eels are also fish, they are members of the order Anguilliformes.) Knifefish are members of the Gymnotiformes order of bony fish. Not An Eel, But A Knifefishĭespite its name and appearance, the electric eel is not an eel at all, but a knifefish. The electric eel uses electricity both to find its way around and to disable its prey. However, this long-bodied, mud-colored fish has an extraordinary superpower: the ability to generate potentially dangerous amounts of electricity. (Warning: The video shows images of an electric eel preying on a fish.)Īt first glance you might not think that there was anything unusual about the electric eel. Watch the video below to see Electric Eels in the wild: Other interesting Electric Eel facts: As if being able to generate electricity wasn’t enough, the electric eel is also one of the few fish that ‘breathes’ air!. ![]() Where Found: Amazon & Orinoco River basins, South America.Scientific name: Electrophorus electricus.This animal is part of the Active Wild Online Zoo: information, pictures and videos of amazing animals from all around the world!Ĭlick the image to see more animals in the Active Wild Online Zoo Electric Eel Facts At A Glance Electric Eel Facts Wolffish may not be the prettiest fish in the sea, but there is much more to them than meets the eye.This page contains Electric Eel facts for kids (and adults). The spotted wolffish, for example, isn’t ready to mate until they are seven! The offspring take a long time to develop, and often don’t reach sexual maturity until they are five years or older. Females will lay thousands, or even tens of thousands, of eggs, then both the male and the female defend the eggs until they hatch. If you weren’t impressed with the wolffish enough: they are dedicated parents, too! They typically live alone, but during breeding season they form bonded pairs to reproduce (some are even thought to mate for life). One study showed that wolffish species that stay in shallower waters have five times the antifreeze proteins than their deep-sea wolffish relatives because shallow-water habitats are more likely to freeze. These proteins bind to small ice crystals and prevent them from growing in the wolffish. They produce a special antifreeze protein that lowers the freezing point of the fluids in their bodies. Wolffish have another trick up their sleeves (fins?) to survive in cold waters. Other than their sharp teeth, you can recognize them by their long, eel-like bodies. They use these chompers to dig into the sediment for food and to break apart the hard shells of clams, urchins, crabs and more. Their teeth are so prominent that some poke out their mouths (picture a vampire in need of braces). Wolffish have one main thing in common with wolves: they have sharp teeth and strong jaws that help them rip apart their prey. They like to hide out in nooks and crannies of rocky outcrops on the ocean floor. Wolffish are found in the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans at depths up to 2,000 feet. That is partially because they live in cold, deep waters that slow their metabolism down and make it harder to make fast movements. The family name comes from the Greek word anarrhichesis, which means “to climb,” but these animals are typically pretty sluggish. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails.
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